30,000 flags will be planted across Sunnybrook’s campus for the 15th annual tribute ahead of Remembrance Day
TORONTO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Monday, November 10, Sunnybrook Foundation will host its 15th annual Operation Raise a Flag, a Remembrance Day commemorative and fundraising initiative. Each year, 30,000 patriotic flags are planted on the Sunnybrook campus to serve as a display of gratitude and reverence for the nearly 150 veterans who served Canada and now call Sunnybrook’s Veterans Centre – one of Canada’s largest Veteran care facilities – home.
On Remembrance Day, Veterans will wake up to a sea of flags, planted by staff, volunteers, and members of Canada’s military. The flags will also provide the backdrop for Sunnybrook’s Remembrance Day ceremony and procession to the Cenotaph, a valued symbol of Sunnybrook’s seventy-seven years of caring for Canada’s war Veterans. The Cenotaph’s recent restoration, powered by donor support, has created a vital site of remembrance for Veterans, their families, Sunnybrook’s health-care teams and our community.
“Operation Raise the Flag is a cherished tradition for our Veterans who call Sunnybrook home,” says Dr. Jocelyn Charles, Medical Director of Sunnybrook Veterans Program. “It is an incredible privilege to care for these individuals who have sacrificed so much to serve Canada. Operation Raise a Flag is a wonderful way to pay tribute to and show gratitude to our Veterans and support the programs that enhance their wellbeing.”
In addition to Canadian flags, flags with Indigenous artwork will also be planted to honour the contributions made by First Nations, Inuit and Métis Veterans.
Funds raised through this year’s Operation Raise a Flag will directly support quality of life programming for the Veterans within the Veterans Centre, including accessibility and both offsite and on-site programs.
“Philanthropy has the power to bring communities together in meaningful ways, and the sea of flags planted through Operation Raise a Flag is a powerful symbol of that,” says Kelly Cole, CEO and President of the Sunnybrook Foundation. “Each flag commemorates our Veterans’ bravery, and every dollar raised helps ensure they receive the care, respect, and quality of life they so deeply deserve.”
Sunnybrook officially opened in 1948 as Sunnybrook Military Hospital – a place to care for the heroic men and women returning home from World War II. Today, the Veterans Centre provides exceptional care to resident Veterans as a lasting reminder of Canada’s gratitude to those who have courageously served in the military.
To make a contribution to Operation Raise a Flag and share a message of gratitude with Veterans residing at Sunnybrook’s Veterans Centre, visit https://foundation.sunnybrook.ca/raiseaflag/.
About Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre is inventing the future of health care for the over 1 million patients the hospital cares for each year through the dedication of its more than 12,000 staff and volunteers. An internationally recognized leader in research and education and a full affiliation with the University of Toronto distinguishes Sunnybrook as one of Canada’s premier academic health sciences centres.
Sunnybrook specializes in caring for high-risk pregnancies, critically-ill newborns and adults, offering specialized rehabilitation and treating and preventing cancer, cardiovascular disease, neurological and psychiatric disorders, orthopaedic and arthritic conditions and traumatic injuries. The Hospital also has a unique and national leading program for the care of Canada’s war veterans.
For more information about how Sunnybrook is inventing the future of health care please visit us online at www.sunnybrook.ca.
Contacts
Media Contact:
Anne-Marie Tremble
Senior Account Manager, Talk Shop Media
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